Thursday, December 8, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Thinkfinity: Florida Thinkfinity: FETC 2012
Thinkfinity: Florida Thinkfinity: FETC 2012
Will you be attending the FETC conference this year? What are you most interested in?
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Students at Ivey Lane Elementary School Achieve Dramatic Increases in Math Performance
MIND Research Institute’s Math Initiative provided pilot grants for a new visual math software program to Ivey Lane and 22 other schools in Orange County Public Schools
ORLANDO, FL, Sept. 7, 2011 – The non-profit education researcher MIND Research Institute announced that third-grade students and their teachers at Ivey Lane Elementary School using MIND’s ST Math® visual math software program achieved a dramatic 26-point gain in grade-level math achievement on the 2011 FCAT 2.0. Ivey Lane also finished 2010/11 in MIND’s top 10% nationally in completion of the challenging, web-based ST Math software, out of more than 1,000 schools in 24 states.
Ivey Lane was one of 23 schools in Orange County Public Schools to pilot the ST Math approach and software in 2010/11, which taps into students’ innate ability to reason their way through visual math puzzles covering Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State math standards. Schools implemented the program at grades 3, 4 or 5. The 23 schools participated in a philanthropically funded Orlando Math Initiative, receiving their software licenses at up to two grade levels free of charge in fall of 2010. Overall, the average results at these schools were also significant and positive, with an average 4-point increase in grade-level performance across all sites on the rigorous FCAT 2.0. The FCAT 2.0 is new, and by design in 2011 showed no net statewide gains.
Third graders at Ivey Lane achieved the most dramatic results. Grade-level math achievement went up by 26 points, from 59% in 2010 to 85% in 2011. And in 2011, the percentage of students at the lowest FCAT achievement level dropped from 9% to zero. These high gains, accompanied by record-high implementation of the new ST Math software program, are signs of outstanding dedication by the school staff to their students’ success with the assistance of the program.
“2010 was our first year piloting our unique program in Florida, and Orange County Public Schools, the pioneer district. So we were anxiously anticipating the results on Florida’s state-of-the-art Next Generation standards and FCAT 2.0 assessment. Thanks to the outstanding reception and implementation our Math Initiative received in Orlando, we are extremely pleased to report these increases in student math achievement,” said Andrew R. Coulson, Education Division President, MIND Research Institute.
“A total of 23 schools in the Orange County Public Schools began our math program last year with two grades enrolled. The Math Initiative continues to make licenses available to expand the program to all of grades K-5 at these sites, adding two grades per year,” continued Coulson. “Public/private partnerships with local schools and our corporate sponsors enabled us to get this pilot going, and great educator partners have shown what is possible in student math achievement gains.”
Funders for this pilot, as part of a scale-up across the United States, include PricewaterhouseCoopers, CISCO, Wells Fargo Foundation, and University of Phoenix Foundation.
“Wells Fargo is proud to support the communities we serve, including Orlando and the state of Florida. Investing in children’s education here is crucial to building a stronger tomorrow for everyone,” said Tim Hanlon, Wells Fargo’s head of philanthropy. “We commend the children and staff at Ivey Lane for their excellent accomplishments in math, as well as the MIND Research Institute for bringing innovative math programs to children across the nation.”
Math Initiative sites received MIND’s award-winning ST Math instructional software, teacher training, and real-time reports on student progress for teachers and principals. MIND Research proactively supports each school’s implementation throughout the year.
MIND Research Institute
The MIND Research Institute is a neuroscience and education research-based, non-profit corporation. MIND applies its distinctive visual approach to illustrating math concepts and building problem-solving skills as the basis for innovative, research-proven math education programs for elementary and secondary schools. MIND’s programs currently reach over 320,000 students and 13,000 teachers in more than 1,000 schools in 24 states. For more information, visit http://www.mindresearch.net.
ORLANDO, FL, Sept. 7, 2011 – The non-profit education researcher MIND Research Institute announced that third-grade students and their teachers at Ivey Lane Elementary School using MIND’s ST Math® visual math software program achieved a dramatic 26-point gain in grade-level math achievement on the 2011 FCAT 2.0. Ivey Lane also finished 2010/11 in MIND’s top 10% nationally in completion of the challenging, web-based ST Math software, out of more than 1,000 schools in 24 states.
Ivey Lane was one of 23 schools in Orange County Public Schools to pilot the ST Math approach and software in 2010/11, which taps into students’ innate ability to reason their way through visual math puzzles covering Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State math standards. Schools implemented the program at grades 3, 4 or 5. The 23 schools participated in a philanthropically funded Orlando Math Initiative, receiving their software licenses at up to two grade levels free of charge in fall of 2010. Overall, the average results at these schools were also significant and positive, with an average 4-point increase in grade-level performance across all sites on the rigorous FCAT 2.0. The FCAT 2.0 is new, and by design in 2011 showed no net statewide gains.
Third graders at Ivey Lane achieved the most dramatic results. Grade-level math achievement went up by 26 points, from 59% in 2010 to 85% in 2011. And in 2011, the percentage of students at the lowest FCAT achievement level dropped from 9% to zero. These high gains, accompanied by record-high implementation of the new ST Math software program, are signs of outstanding dedication by the school staff to their students’ success with the assistance of the program.
“2010 was our first year piloting our unique program in Florida, and Orange County Public Schools, the pioneer district. So we were anxiously anticipating the results on Florida’s state-of-the-art Next Generation standards and FCAT 2.0 assessment. Thanks to the outstanding reception and implementation our Math Initiative received in Orlando, we are extremely pleased to report these increases in student math achievement,” said Andrew R. Coulson, Education Division President, MIND Research Institute.
“A total of 23 schools in the Orange County Public Schools began our math program last year with two grades enrolled. The Math Initiative continues to make licenses available to expand the program to all of grades K-5 at these sites, adding two grades per year,” continued Coulson. “Public/private partnerships with local schools and our corporate sponsors enabled us to get this pilot going, and great educator partners have shown what is possible in student math achievement gains.”
Funders for this pilot, as part of a scale-up across the United States, include PricewaterhouseCoopers, CISCO, Wells Fargo Foundation, and University of Phoenix Foundation.
“Wells Fargo is proud to support the communities we serve, including Orlando and the state of Florida. Investing in children’s education here is crucial to building a stronger tomorrow for everyone,” said Tim Hanlon, Wells Fargo’s head of philanthropy. “We commend the children and staff at Ivey Lane for their excellent accomplishments in math, as well as the MIND Research Institute for bringing innovative math programs to children across the nation.”
Math Initiative sites received MIND’s award-winning ST Math instructional software, teacher training, and real-time reports on student progress for teachers and principals. MIND Research proactively supports each school’s implementation throughout the year.
MIND Research Institute
The MIND Research Institute is a neuroscience and education research-based, non-profit corporation. MIND applies its distinctive visual approach to illustrating math concepts and building problem-solving skills as the basis for innovative, research-proven math education programs for elementary and secondary schools. MIND’s programs currently reach over 320,000 students and 13,000 teachers in more than 1,000 schools in 24 states. For more information, visit http://www.mindresearch.net.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Florida Budget
State and required local funding in Florida's public schools will drop by $1.3 billion. That's a $542.03, or 8 percent!
Courses covered by class size limits will be reduced from 849 to 304. Schools would be required to meet the limits of 18 students in kindergarten through third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth grades and 25 in high school only when head counts are taken in October. After that classes can exceed the limits by up to three students in kindergarten through third grade and by five in the other grades.
http://bit.ly/lEtEuN
Courses covered by class size limits will be reduced from 849 to 304. Schools would be required to meet the limits of 18 students in kindergarten through third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth grades and 25 in high school only when head counts are taken in October. After that classes can exceed the limits by up to three students in kindergarten through third grade and by five in the other grades.
http://bit.ly/lEtEuN
Select the winner, cast your vote
Samsung Wants Help Selecting the Winner of its
SUPERHERO Video Competition
Everyone…please cast your vote!
Ridgefield Park, New Jersey (May 5, 2011) – Samsung Techwin America’s Electronic Imaging Division (www.samsungpresenterusa.com), a leader in document camera technology, today announced that it would like everyone’s help to select the winner of its winter Superhero video contest. “The competition was fierce, but our judges were able to narrow it down to 10 finalists,” said Richard Bellomy, V.P. of Sales for Samsung Techwin’s Electronic Imaging Division. “Now, we would like everyone’s help by voting to determine the winner.”
Anyone can vote by simply going to Samsung’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SamsungDigitalPresenters) and clicking the ‘like’ button for their favorite video. “All of the students did a fantastic job and looked like they had a lot of fun portraying their favorite historical characters and creating their videos,” added Bellomy. “This was very rewarding to see and I’m excited to invite interested students to enter our next Superhero video competition for spring.”
To enter, simply go to www.samsungk-12.com. Any student in grades K-12 who attends school in a United States or Federal Territory is eligible to enter a digital video of 1-3 minutes in length. Students are to portray a historical character and will be judged on presentation performance, character and content accuracy, and content quality. Spring competition entries are due June 17, 2011 and autumn competition entries are due September 23, 2011. One student winner will be selected per competition and will receive $500. In addition, a SAMCAM 860 document camera will be given to their class. The MSRP of the Samsung SAMCAM 860 is $799.
For more information about Samsung Techwin America’s Electronic Imaging Division and its full line of affordable and innovative document cameras, call 877-213-1222, ext. 3306 or go to www.samsungpresenterusa.com.
About Samsung Techwin America – Electronic Imaging Division
Samsung Techwin America is a market leader in document cameras for use in the education sector, ranging from K-12 to universities, courtroom applications, as well as numerous Fortune 500 companies. Every Samsung document camera provides the quality and innovation that has built the Samsung name- quality optics, a robust feature set, a wealth of user-friendly features, and state-of-the-art digital imaging technology. Additionally Samsung Techwin markets a full line of security products under the CCTV Division. Samsung Techwin America is the U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd. in Sungnam Kyungki-Do, Korea. Samsung is the world’s 11th largest company. www.samsungpresenterusa.com.
SUPERHERO Video Competition
Everyone…please cast your vote!
Ridgefield Park, New Jersey (May 5, 2011) – Samsung Techwin America’s Electronic Imaging Division (www.samsungpresenterusa.com), a leader in document camera technology, today announced that it would like everyone’s help to select the winner of its winter Superhero video contest. “The competition was fierce, but our judges were able to narrow it down to 10 finalists,” said Richard Bellomy, V.P. of Sales for Samsung Techwin’s Electronic Imaging Division. “Now, we would like everyone’s help by voting to determine the winner.”
Anyone can vote by simply going to Samsung’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SamsungDigitalPresenters) and clicking the ‘like’ button for their favorite video. “All of the students did a fantastic job and looked like they had a lot of fun portraying their favorite historical characters and creating their videos,” added Bellomy. “This was very rewarding to see and I’m excited to invite interested students to enter our next Superhero video competition for spring.”
To enter, simply go to www.samsungk-12.com. Any student in grades K-12 who attends school in a United States or Federal Territory is eligible to enter a digital video of 1-3 minutes in length. Students are to portray a historical character and will be judged on presentation performance, character and content accuracy, and content quality. Spring competition entries are due June 17, 2011 and autumn competition entries are due September 23, 2011. One student winner will be selected per competition and will receive $500. In addition, a SAMCAM 860 document camera will be given to their class. The MSRP of the Samsung SAMCAM 860 is $799.
For more information about Samsung Techwin America’s Electronic Imaging Division and its full line of affordable and innovative document cameras, call 877-213-1222, ext. 3306 or go to www.samsungpresenterusa.com.
About Samsung Techwin America – Electronic Imaging Division
Samsung Techwin America is a market leader in document cameras for use in the education sector, ranging from K-12 to universities, courtroom applications, as well as numerous Fortune 500 companies. Every Samsung document camera provides the quality and innovation that has built the Samsung name- quality optics, a robust feature set, a wealth of user-friendly features, and state-of-the-art digital imaging technology. Additionally Samsung Techwin markets a full line of security products under the CCTV Division. Samsung Techwin America is the U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd. in Sungnam Kyungki-Do, Korea. Samsung is the world’s 11th largest company. www.samsungpresenterusa.com.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Tech Care Package
This is neat, create a tech support care package to send to your parent(s), friends, neighbors! There are short how to videos for basics, communication, media, and the world wide web. You pick and choose what you’d like to share, check the various boxes for what you wish to say! You will find this at Teach Parents Tech.
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